55.2 million and 16 points! Has the former MVP become a liability? Philadelphia really needs to turn the tables!

"The 76ers management is discussing trading Embiid!"

Recently, Cousins ​​​​made a lot of comments about Embiid on the "Run It Back" program.

A few years ago, if a retired former All-Star center commented on an MVP-level player like this, it would probably have attracted ridicule from fans, but now that such a voice appears, it can even win the support of many fans.

It’s hard to imagine that an All-Star insider who just won the MVP two years ago has now become a potential trade option among ball commentators. Such a decline is really shocking.

Looking at Embiid's start to this season, it can be called a complete collapse.

Facing the Celtics in the season opener, Embiid made 1 of 9 shots and only scored 4 points and 6 rebounds; embarrassingly, after Embiid was lost in the game, the team instead won a big victory; in the second game of the season, facing the rebuilt Hornets, Embiid's condition improved slightly, and he scored 20 points and 4 assists on 7 of 11 shots.

Looking at the current data sheet, the average data per game is only 16.3 points, 5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.3 turnovers, shooting 45.9% from the field, 37.5% from the three-point range, and 69.2% from the free throw rate.

With the team's outstanding performance of winning four consecutive victories and ranking first in the Eastern Conference, Embiid's meager data list can only be regarded as average even for ordinary insiders, let alone the core insider with a maximum salary of 55 million.

What is even more embarrassing is that in this wave of four consecutive victories, Embiid's team's high-level statistics are quite embarrassing; according to statistics, when Embiid is on the court, the 76ers' offense and defense are slow, and the game performance is lifeless; but when Embiid is not playing, the team runs very fast.

In particular, several young players in the team have performed very well since the start of the season.

Maxey averaged 37.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game in the new season, becoming the second player in NBA history to score at least 150 points and 30 assists in the first four games of the season, second only to triple-double king Westbrook; behind him, Edgecombe averaged 22.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game this season, and is expected to become the best rookie.

Borrowing the evaluation of the American media ClutchPionts:

"People originally thought that the 76ers would struggle while waiting for the two stars to return. Paul George did not play a game: $51.6 million off the court. Embiid Played just 40 minutes since the start of the season: $55.2 million off the court, but somehow the 76ers are 4-0 thanks to Maxey and V.J. Edgecombe taking over the game. The two combined for 186 points in the first three games of the season. Since statistics began in the 1970-71 season, this is the first record of total points scored in the first three games of the backcourt. "

Then the US media added:

"The 76ers did not wait for Embiid and George to lead the team, they were building a team. Something different and exciting. Maybe a new era has arrived in Philadelphia."

It is obvious that without Embiid and George, this team looks more like a modern team.

In the show "Run It Back", Cousins ​​even gave some comments that are worthy of discussion:

"I am very sure that the management is already discussing this issue: How feasible is it to trade Embiid? Should this door be completely closed?"

Looking behind this sentence, it is not ruled out that the 76ers' top management has begun to waver in Embiid. This is also a very realistic question:

Without Embiid, is it possible for the team to play better?

For a top-paid player, such an evaluation may sound slightly absurd, but when viewed in light of reality, it is even more dangerous than imagined.

Judging from the previous seasons, Philadelphia did not give Embiid a chance. They offered him a maximum salary, gave him a core tactical position, and also gave him enough patience to develop. But the reward Embiid gave was a bit embarrassing. He had three knee surgeries, missed more than 400 games in his career, and never reached 70 games in nine seasons.

Judging from player contracts, Embiid's three-year, 193 million contract extension will not officially take effect until 2026 and will not expire until 2029. Now there are four years left on the entire contract, and the annual salary has increased from 55.2 million to 69.1 million.

With such a fully guaranteed contract, from a management perspective, if it continues to perform like this with ups and downs, it will definitely be a huge invisible bomb in the future.

In the past few years, Embiid has always been the team's most relied upon inside core, but in the new season, Philadelphia suddenly discovered that it seems that it can win without Embiid, especially the backcourt duo of Maxey and Edgecombe, which is the first choice combination for the team to succeed in the future.

According to media reports, the home page of the 76ers’ online store for pre-sale jerseys no longer displays Embiid, but a photo of Maxey and Edgecombe. The cover photo of the team's social media has also been replaced by a photo of these two young people.

The subtext behind this is obvious. The 76ers' direction for the new season has begun to quietly change.

Of course, no one will question Embiid's talent. As long as he stays healthy, he will still be the first-tier insider killer in the league. But the problem is that it seems increasingly difficult to see a healthy Embiid.

O'Neal also publicly stated before:

"Embiid is no longer worthy of being included in the discussion of top centers.. "

As for the discussion of trading Embiid, it seems that it is not just talk; according to media reports, the Lakers, Thunder, and Spurs have all made offers before. However, at the time, Philadelphia's attitude was still "We have never considered trading Embiid." But in today's world, There are basically no players who are not for sale anymore, let alone a glass insider like Embiid.

If the downturn continues, maybe one day we will see Embiid wearing other jerseys, and Philadelphia fans are also waiting for a new era.